Hampshire v Derbyshire One Day Cup

Derbyshire 339-5 (Jewell 98, Guest 76, Andersson 44, Basra 34*, Came 33, Abbott 2-33)

Hampshire 341-7 (Mayes 62* Middleton 57, Brown 56, Fuller 54, Aitchison 3-47, Hawkins 2-59, Potts 2-77) 

Hampshire won by 3 wickets

No complaints from me tonight, as Derbyshire produced a very good, though ultimately losing display against Hampshire at Southampton. 

The batting today was excellent, but it has been throughout this competition. Jewell and Came led off in fine style before Came was very well  caught (allegedly, as the stream wasn't the best). Montgomery looked in good touch before playing on to the excellent Kyle Abbott (the sort of attack leader we need next season).

Jewell was again brilliant and produced the full range of the strokes we have come to love this summer. He will have been disappointed to get out before a well-deserved century, having been becalmed as he approached it, but looked a player of the highest quality today. 

Guest was also excellent, running hard and hitting exquisitely at times. Andersson joined him in an enjoyable stand of 94 in 12 overs, before Basra came in to improvise impishly and brilliantly in the closing overs. His unbeaten 34 from just 15 deliveries took the total to more than initially looked likely. 

Yet bowling displays this summer suggested that 339 might not be enough. In similar vein, I suppose, to Brian Clough, when he sarcastically asked his team mates after a 6-3 defeat in which he scored all the goals how many he should score the following week, to ensure a point.

Hampshire's strong batting line up always seems up to the task and throughout were around the required rate. Aitchison, who bowled splendidly, removed both openers after a lively opening stand and Hawkins dismissed McMullen as he was getting into his stride. There were also two good wickets for Nick Potts, who bowled some crackers today, though interspersed with half trackers that ruined his figures. 

There was greater accuracy than the debacle of Derby, though we need more who can consistently find the right length like Aitchison. He has learned very quickly this summer and will be a key player in all formats next year.

Hawkins also bowled encouragingly again and took his first List A wickets, both caught and bowled. In that skill he is already better than Mohammad Ghazanfar...

In the end, on an excellent batting pitch the home side prevailed. Like Derbyshire they made runs consistently down the order and could pace their chase, which they did admirably. Seventeen-year old Ben Mayes played a very cool hand at the end and looks a terrific player. He was well supported by the bucolic James Fuller and Hampshire came out on top with five balls to spare.

Middleton and Brown earlier made fine fifties and although it was a much improved effort, I never felt Derbyshire had control. Having said that, I thought Guest used his bowlers well and to add to his excellent knock held a fine one-handed catch above his head to dismiss Middleton from the bowling of Potts.

Improvement then, but we all know the biggest issue. A defeat was expected against a very good team in the first division, but we were not disgraced today. It was another excellent advert for the county game.

In closing, the stream wasn't the best, was it? For a Test ground and with all their resources I expected much more than a glorified single camera with the odd wide angle shot.

I wouldn't swap their coverage for ours, that's for sure.